Dear Starman,

I have listened to my friend's Ten-tec RX-340. I have never "played
with" a Watkins-Johnson. There are precious few so-called
"professional" receivers which are truly suitable for short wave
listeners. As you know, many of these receivers are optimized for a
particular function which may not necessarily be compatible with the
requirements of the SWL. Certainly the ability to adjust almost every
parameter, while desirable for many, may prove overwhelming to the
general SWL and, in general, is not always necessary. (Check out the
Grundig Satellit 800, a very easy receiver to use, which, when used
with a suitable antenna, performs almost as well as anything on the
market.)

For the discerning short wave listener, I feel (my opinion) that,
overall, there is no radio superior to the AR7030 Plus. Two advantages
over, for example, the Drake R8B (a superb receiver, let me note), are
1) the capability of being almost totally computer-controlled (and for
free!), and 2) the ability for the user to make internal adjustments
while the receiver is powered.(This will prove extremely important
when/if necessary to adjust the sync circuit to the
climate/temperature of the ultimate user; I have done this. It's quite
easy.) As far as I know, no other receiver offers these advantages.
Coupled to the ability to customize the receiver to the requirements
of the particular owner, and noting its exceptional performance and
sound quality, the receiver becomes almost irresistable if one can
afford it.

Let us also note that this thread was really about active antennas. As
I have stated many times here and on other groups, in my opinion, for
portable radios (not including the Sat800) the Sony AN-LP1 is a very
good performer. A better performer for portables and tabletops is the
AOR WL500 Window Loop Antenna, though it is less convenient for travel
than the AN-LP1 (which is what I take with me, as well as a Sangean
ANT-60). The very best active antenna, in my experience, is the
Wellbrook ALA 330S. (Yes I own all the active antennas mentioned
above; I have also tried and discarded a fair number of other active
antennas with which I was dissatisfied.)

Thank you for your clarification of your post and my apologies if I
misunderstood and offended you. I try to always make mention in my
posts if I have no experience with a particular product. I have read a
number of your posts previously and find them interesting and very
well informed.

Best,

Joe

starman wrote in message ...

I simply asked if you had ever used a professional grade receiver. It's
not uncommon for people on this group to make comparisons with receivers
they have never used. That's why I was wondering how much experience you
actually had with professional receivers.